by Nigel Melville
Nigel Melville Direct

Here’s one for the forwards, World Cup-winning rugby star Sonny Bill Williams is a boxing champion after a first-round knockout over Clarence Tillman.

Williams, who played the final four minutes of New Zealand’s victory over France in October, beat veteran Tillman with a second of round one remaining.

The win means Williams has won all five of his paids bouts and also secured the vacant New Zealand heavyweight title.

The 26-year-old gave away 21kg in weight to his American opponent.

There was a time when the forwards were referred to as ‘piano movers’ whilst the backs were the ‘piano players’. Not anymore, the backs in the modern game are bigger, faster and stronger than ever before, and still the best looking players on the field!!

With an impressive resume as player, coach and administrator, Nigel David Melville took over as CEO and President of Rugby Operations of USA Rugby, the National Governing Body of the sport in America, in 2006.  In addition to his full time job promoting the sport in the U.S., Melville has launched his own blog, Nigel Melville Direct, to further the discussion and his passion for what it will take to make the U.S. a great rugby playing nation.

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